https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-643-Witnessing-the-Restoration-of-the-Kingdom-of-Kucha/12625743/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-645-Who-s-the-Real-Imbecile-Here-/12625745/
Chapter 644: The Courteous Young Master
Chapter 644: The Courteous Young Master
Jin Banhua often boasted about having studied under dozens of masters and practiced dozens of martial arts skills, claiming to be top-notch in martial arts and peerless in swordsmanship.
However, Black Pearl, Su Rongrong, and the other girls didn't take his words to heart.
In their eyes, Jin Banhua was far inferior to Chu Liuxiang and Yidianhong, and perhaps even less skilled than themselves.
Black Pearl, the daughter of the Desert King, was raised as a boy. She was the top disciple of Leng Qiuhun, the leader of the Zhu Sha Gate, who held sway over Jinan. Even he was no match for her.
Su Rongrong was an expert in poison, Song Tian'er in hidden weapons, and Li Hongxiu had a vast reservoir of knowledge. The three girls had grown up together with Chu Liuxiang, and according to him, their combined skills were enough to handle any unforeseen circumstances.
Although this claim might be a bit exaggerated, it still attested to their exceptional abilities.
The girls didn't pay attention to Jin Banhua's martial arts skills simply because they themselves were extraordinarily skilled.
However, this didn't mean that they thought Jin Banhua was completely useless.
On the contrary, having studied martial arts in the capital for ten years, Jin Banhua's skills were undoubtedly decent. He would have no problem dealing with ordinary martial artists, not to mention that Liao Gang and Ye Jin were also capable fighters.
One practiced the Shaolin Iron Palm, while the other specialized in the Northern Style Kick. Both had easily defeated the warriors under Black Pearl's command, and from the look on their faces, their respect for Jin Banhua seemed genuine.
Therefore, Jin Banhua was more than qualified to join the fun, and his safety was assured.
Moreover...
"Take this," Black Pearl said, tossing him a bronze medal. "This Camel Medal will allow you to travel freely in the Great Desert. The herders in the oases along the way will offer you hospitality."
"Then I won't be polite!" Jin Banhua took the medal. "Aren't you going to join the fun?"
"We're not interested in that ancient book," Song Tian'er said. "We're waiting here for Brother Chu to arrive."
Jin Banhua raised an eyebrow and smiled. "What if Chu Liuxiang doesn't come?"
Song Tian'er frowned coquettishly. "He'll be here."
Jin Banhua turned and left. "That's not certain. Maybe he's gotten himself into trouble again."
...
Jin Banhua obtained a map of the Great Desert from Black Pearl and set off with Liao Gang and Ye Jin, heading toward the place where the scarred man had inquired about the King of Kucha's residence.
Two days later, they spotted an oasis in the distance.
"That should be where the King of Kucha is staying," Jin Banhua said, pointing to the oasis ahead. "Within a hundred li radius, there's only this slightly larger oasis."
Ye Jin checked the map in his hand and looked up to confirm. "Indeed."
Liao Gang stared intently and suddenly shouted, "Someone's coming out!"
Two fast horses galloped out from the oasis, ridden by knights in armor, each carrying a uniquely shaped Han Dynasty spear.
One of them, upon seeing the trio's attire, lit up and called out from a distance, "Are you warriors from the Central Plains?"
Jin Banhua waved his hand, and Liao Gang rode forward. "Indeed! My young master has come here for a tour, and upon hearing about the Kucha Kingdom, he is eager to pay a visit!"
The other knight immediately replied, "Our king eagerly seeks talented individuals and treats them with respect. Please come this way, gentlemen!"
Then, Jin Banhua followed the two knights into the oasis.
This oasis was not as large as the one where General Qing was stationed, but with one large and one small lake, it was still considered a medium-sized oasis.
There were about a dozen ordinary canopies pitched around the perimeter, with warriors, servants, and maids going about their business.
In the center, by the large lake, stood three luxurious tents guarded by spearmen in armor.
The two knights led Jin Banhua and his companions into the oasis, heading straight for the central tent.
The tent was predominantly white, trimmed with gold, and adorned with exotic patterns, giving it an air of opulence and luxury.
Faint music and laughter could be heard from within, but the two guards standing at the entrance had sharp eyes that fixed intently on Jin Banhua's group.
Just as they were about to enter, the guards simultaneously blocked the entrance with their long spears.
"Halt!" said the guard on the left.
"State your names!" demanded the one on the right.
Without a word, Liao Gang and Ye Jin sprang into action.
Liao Gang, stepping into the Meihua stance, swiftly moved in front of the left guard, deflecting his spear with one hand while delivering a palm strike to the guard's chest with the other.
Ye Jin, slightly tilting his body, advanced with a diagonal side step, and from a distance of seven feet, unleashed a kick that landed squarely on the right guard's ribs.
"Puh!"
"Peng!"
Almost in unison, the two guards were sent flying backward, their spears slipping from their grasp as they fell to either side of the tent entrance.
Jin Banhua strode to the tent entrance and gave a slight nod to the knight beside him.
The knight couldn't help but swallow hard and hastily lifted the tent flap. "His Majesty invites the warriors from the Central Plains to enter!"
As the tent flap was raised, Jin Banhua caught a glimpse of the scene within.
The interior was adorned with soft woolen carpets, and despite the daylight outside, lamps burned brightly. The walls of the tent and the surrounding tables of varying heights were adorned with exquisite decorative items.
In the center were several short tables piled high with fresh fruits and delicacies.
Seated at the front was a man in a red robe, wearing a golden crown. He was drinking wine while embracing a beautiful woman by her slender waist. Beside him sat a stunningly dressed young girl, attended by two maidservants.
In addition to them, there were five more extravagantly dressed men, scrutinizing Jin Banhua's group.
"As expected of warriors from the Central Plains, your martial arts are indeed superior!" The man in the red robe smiled. "We are deeply grateful for your assistance!"
"Don't be too quick to thank us," Jin Banhua said as he entered the tent, with Liao Gang and Ye Jin following closely behind. "We're just here to observe the excitement."
"The ancient country of Kucha, I've only read about it in books, so I'm curious to see it for myself," Jin Banhua continued. "Whether or not we'll help you is another matter."
"You're here to watch the fun?" A man in a green robe, sitting at the front, suddenly sneered. "A Shaolin lay disciple and a successor of the Northern Leg School dare to come to the Great Desert just to watch the fun?"
"Which eye of yours saw that they were here for fun?" Jin Banhua turned and pointed at himself. "It's clearly me who's here to watch the fun. They're just accompanying me."
The man in the green robe narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp as he asked, "Then who are you?"
Jin Banhua raised the sword in his hand, "I am the young master of a wealthy family from the capital, the culmination of northern and southern martial arts, the one who exposed the conspiracies of the former leader of the Beggar Gang—Jin Banhua!"
The people in the tent, "...'
The man in the green robe couldn't help but snort derisively, "So, you're just a rich young master."
"But this rich young master is more courteous than anyone present." Jin Banhua shot him a sideways glance, his tone casual. "At the very least, I wouldn't have my subordinates attack guests unprovoked, nor would I fail to offer them a seat or neglect to introduce myself after speaking at length."
(End of Chapter)
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